🥔 Baked Potato
A baked potato is a simple, classic side dish with a fluffy interior and crispy skin. It’s versatile and pairs well with toppings like butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, or chives.
📝 Classic Oven-Baked Potato
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2️⃣ Prep Potatoes
- Scrub potatoes clean and pat dry.
- Pierce each potato 4–5 times with a fork to allow steam to escape.
- Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
3️⃣ Bake
- Place directly on the oven rack or a baking sheet.
- Bake 45–60 minutes until skin is crispy and a fork slides easily into the center.
4️⃣ Serve
- Slice open and fluff interior with a fork.
- Add desired toppings: butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, or chili.
🔥 Tips
- Russet potatoes work best for a fluffy interior.
- For extra crispy skin, brush with a little more oil halfway through baking.
- Microwave shortcut: Cook 5–7 minutes per potato, then finish in the oven 10–15 minutes for crisp skin.
- Make twice-baked potatoes by scooping the inside, mixing with cheese, butter, and seasonings, then returning to the skin and baking again 15–20 minutes.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Classic loaded baked potato with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives
- Chili baked potato
- Served alongside grilled steak, roast chicken, or ribs
- Topped with broccoli and cheddar for a vegetarian option
I can also give a crispy skin oven-baked method or a microwave-baked version in under 15 minutes if you want a quicker option.
